The LA Chargers' loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football ended with some controversy as there was not one, but two questionable calls that went against the Bolts late in the fourth quarter.
While the officiating is the biggest story exiting Monday's game, it does not change the fact the Chargers played below their expectations. Arizona tried to give the game away for 60 minutes but the Chargers were unable to fully grasp the game and execute when it mattered most.
Despite a Herculean effort from Justin Herbert, the Chargers did not score a touchdown in Week 7's loss. All 15 points were courtesy of Cameron Dicker's right foot and while there are several variables in play, there is one primary reason why the Bolts are struggling on offense.
Jim Harbaugh hiring Greg Roman continues to age poorly for the Chargers
Chargers fans were less than excited when the team hired Greg Roman to be the offensive coordinator and he is showing why through six games this season. Roman worked with Harbaugh on the San Francisco 49ers and the only thing he has done in Los Angeles is prove his offensive style is dated.
Most football fans already knew this before Roman took the job thanks to his last tenure with the Baltimore Ravens. Roman somehow held back an offense that featured Lamar Jackson, resulting in disappointing playoff results.
Ironically enough, Baltimore scored 41 points on the exact same night Roman's current team was unable to find the endzone once. That alone sends enough of a message.
There are some compounding variables as to why the Chargers are struggling offensively. The wide receiver room is banged up and the offensive line has underperformed thus far. But where the Chargers miss out on talent there, the team makes up for at quarterback. Despite all the hurdles in place, Herbert still completed 27 of 39 passes for 349 yards in the loss.
It would be one thing if this was an isolated incident but that is not the case. The Chargers offense has struggled mightily all season despite having an elite quarterback under center.
Los Angeles ranks 28th in the NFL in offensive touchdowns per game, ahead of only the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins. The Chargers rank a slightly more respectable 25th in yards per game.
Nobody is expecting the Chargers to have an elite offense given the circumstances (even though the team could have drafted a franchise wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft), but the results have to be better than this. An offense that ranks in the teens would even be suitable.
Roman simply is not the guy to run a successful offensive operation in the year 2024. Nothing is more indicative of that than the fact the Chargers were unable to score a single touchdown against the team that ranked 28th in touchdowns allowed per game before Week 7.
Unfortunately, Roman is a Harbaugh guy, so do not expect to see change any time soon.